The Miami Heat have been met with little resistance in the first round of the playoffs the past three seasons, winning 12 of 14 games. That doesn't mean they are taking the Charlotte Bobcats lightly. The seventh-seeded Bobcats open the series against the No. 2 Heat on Sunday at AmericanAirlines Arena. "They deserve the respect of how they've played the last six weeks," Spoelstra said. "They've been one of the better teams in the league, certainly in the Eastern Conference. They defend, give themselves a chance every single night.

For most of the season, opponents of the Charlotte Bobcats had to chose to either stop Kemba Walker or Al Jefferson. Somehow, the Miami Heat have managed to neutralize both simultaneously. It has left the Bobcats staring at a 3-0 deficit in this best-of-seven series in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. With the season on the line in Monday's Game 4, Charlotte is searching for answers. "They committed the second defender to Al," Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said.

The Charlotte Bobcats have been here before. They started the season by playing 9 of 11 games without star center Al Jefferson, who was out with an injury. And the Bobcats played some pretty good basketball, going 5-4 in the games he missed. Now, they hope for a similar effect with Jefferson's mobility likely limited the remainder of their first-round series against the two-time defending champion Miami Heat. "We had a stretch where we played without Al, and we played some really good basketball," guard Kemba Walker said.

The Charlotte Bobcats have been here before. They started the season by playing 9 of 11 games without star center Al Jefferson, who was out with an injury. And the Bobcats played some pretty good basketball, going 5-4 in the games he missed. Now, they hope for a similar effect with Jefferson's mobility likely limited the remainder of their first-round series against the two-time defending champion Miami Heat. "We had a stretch where we played without Al, and we played some really good basketball," guard Kemba Walker said.

For most of the season, opponents of the Charlotte Bobcats had to chose to either stop Kemba Walker or Al Jefferson. Somehow, the Miami Heat have managed to neutralize both simultaneously. It has left the Bobcats staring at a 3-0 deficit in this best-of-seven series in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. With the season on the line in Monday's Game 4, Charlotte is searching for answers. "They committed the second defender to Al," Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said.

March 25, 2014 Q: Is Wednesday's game against the Pacers a "must win"? After all, if they can't get it together against their biggest rival for a nationally televised game, there's little hope they can get it together for the playoffs. -- David. A: I don't know if it's "must win," but it is must-show-up-and-be-heard-from. If there's no fire Wednesday . . . well, there might not be any fire left after three consecutive visits to the NBA Finals.

May 3, 2014 Q: Ira, can Erik Spoelstra afford to start Udonis Haslem against the Nets? Who would guard Paul Pierce, Haslem or Chris Bosh? -- Steve. A: It's a legitimate question, one, though, the Heat may not have to answer, depending on the outcome of Sunday's Game 7 in Toronto. I know this is where I'm supposed to say the Heat should force the Nets to match up with them, but the reality is that on the opposite end, the Nets could play Kevin Garnett against Haslem and then use either Joe Johnson, Pierce or even Shaun Livingston (if he starts)

May 11, 2014 Q: I can't see Brooklyn having another 3-point performance like Saturday again. We needed this humble pie. -- Brandy. A: Look, the Nets' 15 3-pointers were a franchise playoff record, so it's highly unlikely it will happen again (although the Heat's 3-point defense can be frightening lax at times). But there is never anything good about a playoff loss, and if the Heat truly needed an eye-opener, then they're not who we thought they were.

March 23, 2014 Q: Miami is doing nothing productive with that open roster spot. -- Shane. A: I agree. While it's nice to have Justin Hamilton in the developmental pipeline, and while it might have been nice to get a look at DeAndre Liggins, at least in practice, for a team that is all about the moment, you would think Roger Mason Jr. would have been of greater benefit. It's almost as if the Heat released Mason in advance of the buyout deadline with another veteran in mind, a veteran they were unable to land.

The Miami Heat have been met with little resistance in the first round of the playoffs the past three seasons, winning 12 of 14 games. That doesn't mean they are taking the Charlotte Bobcats lightly. The seventh-seeded Bobcats open the series against the No. 2 Heat on Sunday at AmericanAirlines Arena. "They deserve the respect of how they've played the last six weeks," Spoelstra said. "They've been one of the better teams in the league, certainly in the Eastern Conference. They defend, give themselves a chance every single night.

May 4, 2014 Q: If Roy Hibbert follows up his Game 7 with a good series against Washington, do you think his confidence will be restored by the time the Pacers play the Heat? -- Michael. A: I'm not ready to say Saturday against the center-less No. 8 Hawks was a game-changer for Hibbert, but it arguably was one of his most positive steps in months. The Heat and Pacers still have to get through another round before they meet, but coming back from a 3-2 deficit figures to pay dividends for Indiana when the next challenge arises.

April 24, 2014 Q: If Josh McRoberts is suspended, do you think Charlotte will go with an ultra-small lineup for Saturday's Game 3? How would the Heat counter? -- David. A: First, there has to be some type of sanction against McRoberts for his fourth-quarter shoulder shiver against LeBron James. That was many things, but a basketball play wasn't one of them. For all the stoppages this postseason to review flagrant fouls or out-of-bounds calls, how could the officials not rule that a flagrant initially, if only to go to the video?